I watched News of the World because I had just finished reading the book. I really enjoyed the book and wanted to see how it would adapt. What a turd of a movie! They butchered a perfectly good story and turned it into Tom Hanks fluff. I was pissed!

Slingshot. Not very good.

Used Cars. It was aight, I guess. Onscreen nudity in the early-80's looks so grimy.

Every ten or fifteen years, I rewatch The Maltese Falcon to see whether I’d failed to appreciate it.

The answer is no. That movie had all the talent in the world on its side, and it still sucked.

Watched It’s a Wonderful Life for the billionth time and was reminded that it’s possible to make great, democratic art.

My daughter was interested in Woman of the Hour, Anna Kendrick’s movie about the serial killer who appeared on The Dating Game in the late 70s, so we watched that on Netflix. The film’s departures from the true story entirely make sense; virtually nothing is known about the woman who picked Bachelor #3 in real life, for example, other than she didn’t end up going on the date. It wasn’t brilliant, but we also liked it and found it very, very tense.

Hundreds of Beavers. Drop whatever you’re doing and watch it—it’s absolutely hilarious and wonderful. Currently free to stream on Kanopy with a participating library card (at least in the States, dunno about elsewhere)

Blitz. It's good, but did not live up to the hype I'm seeing and hearing.

"i was born when she kissed me, i died when she left me, i lived a few weeks while she loved me"

Janet Planet: best movie I have seen this year. Just technically, an impeccable meeting of almost-vérité storytelling and painterly framing, without crossing over into heavy-handedness. Brilliant acting from all involved too.

Don't know why I've slept so long on Take Shelter. Can't shake it. There used to be an old school thread that if memory serves was based on mental illness and I believe it was former FM burun who told a story about friend or acquaintance who could pinpoint the exact moment/delusion/hallucination that heralded their schizophrenia. It was a frightening story that I often think about and played in the internal discussion I had after watching Take Shelter. Excellent performances and great storytelling.